Liquid lubricant dispenser



Oct. 23, 1956 i c. L. GEBAUER' 2,763,032

I gxqulo LUBRICANT DISPENSER Filed "Aug; 4, 1954 Arron Gebaner (lhem'i'cal Com any, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationofOhim t Application August 4, 1954, sena1 No. 447,790, eclaimst- (o1. 299 1'07) This invention, consists of improved means for dispensing alubricant mixture of the typedisclosedin my Patent No; 2,449,114, and for confining the mixture to a restrictedarea, as when directing it into a relatively small orifice. d

A lubricating mixture ofthetyp e referred to includes colloidal graphite, and aliquid solventthaving-a relatively low boiling point, such as ethyl, chloride. As, pointed out in said patent; the mixture isxcontained in and dispensedifrorn a bottle or similarrec'eptacle provided with a capillary, jet orifice, controlled by a finger'opera'ted valve; Examples of such a container are, toibefound in my Patent No. 2,171,501, and inaxjointpatent of my- :self and Charles F. W; Bates, No ..2,400,2 3l.,, When the receptacle is, subjected to ordinary roomfltemperature, :and especially when held in the hand and subjected to the higher temperature thereof, the solvent volatilizes and: createsra pressure within! the receptacle that impels the-lubricating mixture throughthe jet orifice when the valve is openedl While my present invention maybe employed invario'us situations where a lubricant of the character described is to be applied to a restrictedarea, it isespecially intended for use in directing the lubricant into the keyhole of a lock, such as the kind employed on automotive vehicles, for freeing the internal mechanism or tumblers when stuck because "of the lack of lubrication oron account of the presence at ice; the lubricating mixture having the effect of melting congealed moisture inside the lock caused by exposure to sub freezing temperatures.

Heretofor'e, when applying the lubricating mixture to a lock, such as that installed in the door of an automorive Vehicle, bymeans of a dispensing receptacle of the kind shown in either of the twb last mentioned patents, the lubricating mixture would be sprayed over a considerable area surrounding the keyhole and would run new the side 'of the door. These undesirable conditijnsres'ulted fromthe fact'that the dispensingen'd of the "receptacle had to be spaced from the surface an appreciable distance in order to allow for the movement of the lever actuated valve orclosure wherewith the receptacle is equipped, and was without the benefit of a support that would e nahle'the receptacle vIto he held steady. This former method of applying the lubricating mixture was wasteful, and made necessary, for th e sake ofappear- 'ance, the removal of the excess graphite .from the .side of the door. i

The primary object or present invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive attachment for a dispensing receptacle of the class described which is capable of being quickly and easily applied to the receptacle, and that will enable the user to steady the receptacle by pressing the distal end of the attachment firmly against the surface surrounding a keyhole, for example, with the discharge nozzle of the receptacle approximately in alignment with the keyhole, thereby to insure effective application and economical use of the lubricating mixture rates net ice and confinement of the stray mixture to a very small area and amount. 7 7

Another object, of the invention is to, provide an attachment of this character that consists of a tubular body of resilient, elastic material of the required stability, such as a firm quality of natural or synthetic: rubber, that is open along one side from end to end and that is capable of being easily and quickly attached to the receptacle by forcingone end of the body over a part of the receptacle that surroundsthe nozzle, thereby to hold said end we panded under stress by and about said part, with the valve or closure actuating lever of the receptacle accommodated by the side opening of the body.

With the attachment thus applied to the receptacle, the personwusing-th e receptacle to lubricate an automobile door lock, forexample, may press the distal end of the attachment firmly, against the surface of the door or lock surrounding the keyhole, observing through the side opening ofthe attachment the relationship of the discharge end; of the nozzle to the keyhole. Now when the nozzle issubstantially aligned with the keyhole, the lever is depressed, to release the mixture, the valve or closure that is carriedby. the lever being swung into the side opening of, the, body to partially close the same and better confine the mixture to the specific area of application.

Another object is to provide a valve or closure for application to said lever that is of a size and. shape to most effectively serve its dual purpose.

An embodiment .of my invention by which the foregoingobjects and advantages are attained is illustrated in theaccoinpanying drawing that forms: a part hereof and wherein like parts are designated by like reference characters-throughout the several views.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a side elevational View of a dispensing receptacle with the attachment of my invention applied thereto, the latter being shown in; central longitudinal section;

Fig, 2 is a front elevational View of the receptacle equipped "with the attachment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the attachment, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the discharge end of the receptacle with the attachment thereon and with the distal end of the latter pressed-against a surface adjacent the keyhole end of a lock, the lever actuated valve or closure being shown as swung outwardly away from the nozzle and into the side opening of the attachment.

The receptacle for the lubricating mixture, illustrated in the drawing as a glass bottle, is designated 1. The same is provided with a neck 2 having an external thread 3 (Fig. 4) thereon for the reception of the internally threaded skirt of a cap 5 that includes a top wall,6. Said wall is circular, and projecting from the central portion thereof is a threaded boss 7 that is provided with an axial bore. 7

Applied to the boss 7, and engaged with a shoulder 8 that surrounds the inner end of the boss is an apertured plate 10 having a side extension that carries laterally spaced ears 11. A sleeve-like nut 12 is applied to the boss 7 and serves to hold the platetlll against the shoulder 8. The not l2ter'mi'nates at its outer end in an annular flange having a central opening that registers with the bore of the boss 7. A plug 15, desirably of cork, fits tightly within the outer end of the neck 2 of the receptacle, and compressed between the end Wall 6 of the cap 5 and the opposed surfaces of the plug 15 and neck 2 is a rubber gasket 16.

Extended tightly through a central bore of the plug 15 and a registering aperture of the gasket 16 is a tubular element or nozzle 18. The forward end portion of said element or nozzle 18 projects through the bore of the boss 7 and the opening in the flange of the nut 12 and terminates a suitable distance beyond the flanged end of said nut, The element or nozzle 18 may consist of a piece of glass tubing, and its outer end portion is contracted so that the bore thereof is reduced to a capillary duct 19. 20 denotes a lever having laterally spaced lugs 21 that are pivotally connected, by means of a pin 22, to the ears 11 of the p1ate 10. The inner end of the leveroverhangs and is laterally spaced from the cap 5,- and applied to theqopposite or front end of'the lever is a valve or closure 23. A spring 24 of conventional character, coiled about and supported by the pin 22, biases the lever in a direction to engage the valve or closure 23 withthe discharge end of the nozzle 18. e The attachment of'my invention 'is designated 25 and, in its present preferred form, it consists of a frusto-conical tubular body having an axial cylindrical bore 26 and a side opening 27 that extends the full length of the body.

The attachment is made of a firm quality of natural or synthetic rubber, or other resilient, elastic material of suitable stability. When the attachment is dismounted and in relaxed condition, the diameter of the bore 26 is less than that of the nut 12. In applying the attachment to the receptacle, the thicker proximal end of the attachment is expanded about the nut 12 and, by virtue of the inherent resiliency or elasticity of the material, it will tightly embrace the nut and thus securely hold the attachment to the receptacle. The side opening 27 accommodates the lever 20 and its connections with the plate 10. The valve or closure 23 desirably consists of a sleeve of rubber or the like of appropriate cross section and it is stretched over the relatively broad forward end of the lever 20. When so mounted it is of a width equal to or slightly greater than that of the side opening 27. Accordingly, when swung to the position shown in Fig. 4 to release the lubricating mixture, it will close the outer end of the side opening and obstruct any part of the mixture that might be sprayed through theside opening.

. In Fig. 4,' the distal end of the attachment is shown as firmly engaged with a part 30, which may be an automobile door, about the keyhole end of a lock 31, the said end, which has a thinner wall than the proximal end, readily adjusting itself to the contour of the surfaces with which it is engaged.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be understood that the same is susceptible to such changes and modifications as are embraced within the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, the distal end of the attachment 25 may be shaped to constrict the outlet end of the axial passage or bore 26 and give it the form of a relatively narrow vertical slot that is open at its upper end. This shape is especially appropriate where the device is intended for use primarily with cylinder locks having narrow, slot-like keyholes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An attachment for use in administering a lubricating mixture of the type described, from a dispensing receptacle having a nozzle, a lever pivotally connected to the receptacle and biased in a direction to dispose one end of the lever across the discharge end of the nozzle, and 'a closure for the nozzle carried by said end of the lever; said attachment consisting of a relatively thick wall tubular body of a resilient, elastic substance, said body being open along one side from end to end and adapted to have one of its ends forced over and held in expanded condition under stress by a part of the receptacle surrounding the nozzles, thereby to connectthe attachment to the receptacle, the open side of the attachment accommodating said lever.

2. An attachment for use in administering a lubricating mixture of the type described, from a dispensing receptacle having a nozzle, and a lever pivotally connected to the receptacle and biased in a direction to dispose one end of the lever across the discharge end of the nozzle; said attachmentv consisting of a relatively thick wall tubular body of a resilient, elastic substance,,said body being open along one side from end to end and adapted to have one of ,its ends forced overand held in expanded condition under stress by apart of the receptaclesiirrounding the nozzle, said .lever occupyingtheiopen side of the attachment, and a relatively broad closure of resilient material carried by and extending beyond the sides of the aforesaid end of the lever and serving, when adjacent the outer end of the nozzle, to close the same, and when swung away from the nozzle, to engage within and partially close the open side of the attachment.

-3. 'An attachment for use in administering a lubricating mixture of the type described, from a dispensing-receptacle having a discharge nozzle, and a lever pivotally connected to the receptacle and biased in a direction to dispose-one end-of the lever across the discharge end of the nozzle; said attachment consisting of a body of resilient, elastic substance, the body having a longitudinalbore and being open along one side from end to end thereof, one end of said body being adapted to be expanded over and held under stress'due to its inherent elasticity about a part of the receptacle that surrounds the nozzle, the open side of the body accommodating the aforesaid lever, and a closure in the form of a sleeve of resilient, elastic material stretched 'over. the aforesaid end of the lever forengagement with the outer end of the nozzle when the lever is in one position, and which engageswithin and partially closes the open side of thebody when the lever isiri another position. Y

4. -An attachmentfor use in administering a lubricating mixture of the type described, from a dispensingl'ecep' tacle characterized by a discharge nozzle, a cylindrical part surrounding said nozzle, in substantially concentric relation thereto, and a lever pivotally connected tothe receptacle and biased in avdirection to dispose one end of the lever across the discharge end of the nozzle, said end mounting a closure for the nozzle; the attachment consisting of a frusto-conical body composed entirely of a resilient, elastic substance, said body having an axial bore and being open along one side from end to end, the

larger end of the attachment being adapted to be expanded over and held under stress due to its inherent elasticity about. the aforesaid boss thereby to connect the attachment to the receptacle, the open side of the attachment accommodating the aforesaid lever, and said closure fitting within and serving to partially close said open side when the lever is swung in a direction to remove the closure from the nozzle. i

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thorpe Oct. 20, 1953 i 

